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Jackson County road department updates fleet in preparation for next year's winter

Cold weather Wednesday

A Jackson County Department of Transportation snow plow hits drifts along Ocean Beach Road near Clark Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014. The road department's new snow-busting fleet will include two tandem axle plow trucks with front plows, underbody plows and right side wing plows. Crews can remove more snow with the new wing plows, which can span across more than just one lane. (J. Scott Park | Mlive.com)
(MLive Media Group)

JACKSON, MI -- As much as roads age with time, so do the equipment needed to maintain them.

The Jackson County Department of Transportation is spending about $754,000 on new equipment that also should remove snow much faster and more efficient that what's currently employed.

"They break down in the winter," said Jerry Peterson, the director of the JCDOT of timeworn snow plows.

Last winter, some of the aging plow trucks were rendered out of commission on the side of roads. Some of the fleet is more than 20 years old.

The department's new snow-busting fleet will include two tandem axle plow truckswith front plows, underbody plows and right-side wing plows. Crews can remove more snow with the new wing plows, which can span across more than just one lane.

"It will be 30 percent more efficient," Peterson said.

The funds were budgeted for last year as county officials prepared the 2014 JCDOT Capital Outlay budget. The trucks also are used for routine maintenance and include patching as well as hauling equipment to work sites.

Department officials also are getting creative when it comes to updating the snow plow fleet. Instead of buying more snow plow trucks, the department is purchasing four tandem axle glider kits, which will be used to rebuild existing snow plow trucks with a new frame and other components at about 70 percent of the cost of a new truck, Peterson said.

The renovated fleet also will include four light duty trucks and four extended cab pickup trucks. The aged vehicles are being auctioned off as they are removed from the fleet.